Iranian footballers defy Tehran, become Australian citizens

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:27:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Two Iranian women's national team players defected during the Women's Asian Cup, securing Australian citizenship amid rising tensions in their home country.

Atefeh Ramezanisadeh and Fatemeh Pasandideh, two members of Iran’s women’s football squad, were granted Australian citizenship in Brisbane after refusing to sing the Iranian anthem at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Their decision coincided with a broader tightening of Australian migration policy and heightened political pressure over asylum seekers. Both players are now training with the A-League Women’s side Brisbane Roar, looking to continue their elite careers in Australia.

Iranian footballers defy Tehran, become Australian citizens

Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, 34, and Fatemeh Pasandideh, 22, became naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom in Brisbane on Wednesday, after refusing to play the national anthem of their homeland during an international match. The two players are the only members of Iran’s women’s football team to take up asylum in Australia during the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

The 2026 tournament was played in the midst of the war that began between Israel and the United States on 28 February. The teams had mixed feelings on the risk of travelling to Australia and a detour was proposed by a small voting circle to give them a chance to seek asylum. In the end, only Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh went for it.

The Australian government’s interior minister, Tony Burke, handed certificates of citizenship to the pair in a ceremony that highlighted the broader debate over Indigenous migration and rules that could restrict asylum seekers and ban family visa requests. The pair are now in training with the A-League women’s side Brisbane Roar.

Both Ramezanisadeh and Pasandideh keep their hopes alive, stating that the move was a “new beginning” and that they are proud to call Australia “home” to them. They say that the new memory is synonymous with the challenges they faced, illuminating the trauma they endured when they returned to Iran.